It just pisses me off that talking heads and even medical personnel can talk about an ‘epidemic’ in America of obesity in children, people, adults. (Aren’t we all people?)

The last I heard, epidemics are when someone has a disease or condition that can be given to another, such as measles, mumps, influenza. Thanks to immunizations and better hygiene, we have kept such diseases to a minimum death risk. We disinfect everything in sight (maybe even to our detriment–that’s for another day, another blog) and try to avoid those who are contagious.

But obesity is not a #1 killer of any age group. It is a condition and possibly a commentary on today’s society. You cannot catch ‘fatness’ from another person. You cannot give obesity to another person. You cannot immunize against being large.

And so I am just plumb tired of hearing about this so-called epidemic. They talk about it as though we must lock ourselves into underground bunkers and stock up on alcohol and peroxide to avoid catching this deadly disease.

We make fun of fat people–in magazines, on TV, in conversations, on the radio. We say, in our tones that we who are larger are to be despised, loathed, or ignored. That we “just don’t measure up”.

Ironically, according to the government, unless you are skin and bone, you are something of a problem to them. They want to legislate food in every place on the planet…how much you can/should eat, where to eat, how to eat it, and what you can eat.

It is also the government that has decided that children need to learn about computers in pre-school and kindergarten. Homework should be on computers–save a tree, blah blah. They have decided that our children aren’t learning anything, so they issue more homework. But they want kids to get out and play for an hour. They have determined that kids need more sleep.

So let’s recap so far: they should study longer, use computers, play for at least an hour, and sleep more, and eat appropriately.

When are kids supposed to socialize? (or is that when they catch obesity?) We want our kids to use computers that require signals and connections to electricity and the internet. Then when they are on their computers, we tell them to get off and do something. We have our kids so over-scheduled, they don’t have time to just be themselves. And I think that between the sports, the computers, the school, the jobs, the homework, the rehearsals, and the other multiple things kids are supposed to do, that eating and being a child must suffer.

And that doesn’t even include the children and adults who eat just because they enjoy it. Or eat out of emotions. Or eat because they don’t know when they will eat again.

And as one of the aforementioned fat kids, I can tell you that eating made up for a lot of things. I didn’t have friends, but I had Little Debbie. I was thin until the kids at school changed my name to ‘it’. I was made fun of, I was teased, I was told I couldn’t do anything. And that was when I was thin!

But I digress. I just want to know 1 thing: when did society make it ok to laugh at fat people? We think it gouache to make fun of those that are mentally or physically disabled. We think it gouache to make jokes about those of other cultures, heritages, etc.

And so those in media have decided that somehow fat people should be the next to be made fun of, to be joked about, to be the fops of this generation.

Science has even proved that those with a little extra weight are actually healthier. Government says wants to track those with a BMI too high …what about those who are anorexic? Do they not use the same doctors, hospitals and medical resources that fat people do? Or so-called “normal” people? (which begs the question: if normal is the average of any population; and if the average of that population is overweight….then aren’t fat people “normal”? )

Hard to believe that us overweight people actually work, pay taxes, shop, and contribute to society. We know how to help the economy, raise a family, teach in schools, socialize and be an asset to our families, communities and our country.

We are also loyal to our friends and family. We know what we have and how fragile it is to lose. So we actually work harder to keep what we have. We pay extra for what we have…the airplane seat, the larger chair, the more comfortable clothes.

But is any of this a reason to make jokes about us?

People don’t like to touch us…thinking they might catch something I suppose. They don’t want to have a real conversation, unless they need something from us. Men think that fat women are “easier” so they prey on them for fast action without the strings. (Our money and time is good, but not our commitment and hearts.) And the few men that enjoy and desire a relationship with us, are called names like “chubby-chaser” and “loser”.

I am also amazed at some of the things I’ve been told by doctors. Did you know that influenza is caused by obesity? Did you know that motor vehicle accidents are caused by obesity? Yes, I was told that I wouldn’t have caught the flu if I wasn’t obese. And when a rented truck hit my car, it was because I was overweight. It’s amazing that I’m allowed to live!

Fat people aren’t looking for approval or permission. Just like everybody else in this world, we are just looking for friendship and a place in this world.

I’m blessed….I have a man that loves me and supports me. Who doesn’t care if I’m big and beautiful or thin and twiggy, as long as I love him back.

So if this makes any sense…I’m surprised. But essentially I just wanted to know why it’s ok to make fun of fat people.